Automatic screw-machine.



A. l. STRONG.

AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYVIZ. 1.913.

1 ,1 87,563 Patented June 20, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A. J. STRONG.

AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2, 1913.

Patented June 20, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Jysmron 1 V 1 a A ORA/5Y8 v A. J. STRONG.

AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINE.

APPLICATION mso JULYIZ, ma.

Patented June 20, 1916.

-3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w m M n w 'r COLUMBIA FMNOORAPH C AUTOMATIC SCREVf-Ii/IACHINE.

Application filed July 12, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. STRONG, residing at Detroit, in the countyof Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Screw-l/lachines, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The invention whica constitutes the subject matter of this applicationrelates to an automatic machine for constructing small articles, such asset-screws, doublescrews, binding posts and the like, the principal0bjoct consisting in devising improved means for automaticallyperforming in one and the same machine, not only the prelim nary, butsubsequent operations upon suitable stock to produce a finished article.

The scheme of makingscrews by means of a horizontal turret carrying aseries of tools to be presented in succession is old,but I am not awareof any machines of this character that are provided with novelii'icchanism comprising interconnected rotatable turrets and capable ofautomatically Jerfoi-ining subsequent operations, where required, tomake the finished product.

My invention, therefore, briefly consists in a machine for performingsuccessive operations upon a blank. stock to produce finished articles.and comprises a plurality of successive blank holders in connection withmeans for transferring blanks from one holder the succeeding holder, andmeans for performing one or more operations upon the blank while it ismaintained in each of the holders, one of said holders and one of themeans for effecting operations upon the blank consisting ofinterconnected rotatable turrets adapted to be rotated and movedlongitudinally in unison. In conjunction with a machine of thischaracter I also employ a means, such as a punch, for performing certaincharacteristic or desired operations other than those usually performedby the tools of turrets.

Other objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention willappear from the detail description taken in connection with the accomiianying drawings, in which Figure l. is a side elevation of a machineembodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a sec tional view taken through theworking space of Fig. 1, and looking toward the turret mechanism of themachine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the same line as in Fig.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented June 2%, 1916.

Serial No. 778,654.

2, but looking in the opposite direction. Fig. l is an end elevation ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the end opposite to that shown in Fig.4-. Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section through the machineshowing the transferring-device mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail of thearrangement, used in this embodiment to operate the turrets of the same.Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 show the evolution of a set-screw duringthe various steps in the process of making it with this inachine,andreferring more particularly to the figures: Fig. ,9 shows the stock asfed through the machine, Fig. 10 shows the stock in section after it hasbeen centered by means of the second tool of the toolcarrying turret,Fig. 11 shows the stock in section, after it is drilled by the thirdtool of said turret, Fig. 12, the next step, shows the blank cut off thestock and beveled and key-fitted by the punch, Fig. 13 shows the blankafter it has been acted upon by the tool in spindle a5, namely,end-cupped, Fig. 1% shows the blank after it has been exteriorlythreaded, which is the last step.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1 indicatessuitable stock which may be in the form of a bar of solid or hollowcross section, or may be in the form of blanks of suitable size, and isdisposed in a horizontal rotatable sleeve or spindle 2, which preferablyextends from one end of the machine to a suitable working space, whereit terminates in a rotating head 3 and is provided with suitablejournals 4-. The rotating head is provided with the necessary mechanismfor properly retaining the stock in place. The stock is of a size topermit its free passage through the sleeve, and the only mechanicalconnection between it and the sleeve is made by means of the clutchmechanism 5. This clutch mechanism is fixed to, and rotates with, thesleeve 2, but is capable of longitudinal movement thereon. W'hen,however, the clutch is moved forward, that is, in the direction of thehead 3, it clamps the stock and pulls it forward too, and at the sametime rotates with it. \Vhen the clutch device is moved backward itreleases the stock and slides over it into its former position to beready to clutch the stock and move it forwardly a predetermineddistance. The mechanism in the head 3 provides sufficient resistance toprevent the stock from being retracted whenthe clutch mechanism ofturrets 30 and 31, which are suitably is retrieved to its firstposition. To move the clutch mechanism backward and forward I employ aship 6 which is provided with a bifurcated arm 7 engaging the groovedportion 8 ofthe clutch mechanism,

I and a toe orpin 9, which is automatically actuated by the force bars10 on the drum 11, located adjacent thereto. The spindle and associatedmechanism is of. the usual and through intermediate gearing operates agear 14 mounted on a shaft 15, thereby impartinga continuous motion tothe worm 16. This'worm wheel meshes withiand actuates the worm wheel 17,fixed to one end of a horizontal shaft 18, the other end of which isalso provided with a worm wheel 19, meshing with a worm wheel 20, fixedupon one end of a shaft 22 arranged longitudinally of the machine. Tothis shaft 22 is secured the drums 21 and 11 and cam wheels 23 and2 l. vH r v V A frame 25 serves to hold the parts of the machine, as'isclearly shown in the drawings. f

I On the drum 21 m force-bars or cams 26 which are arranged so as toperiodically reciprocatea toe or pin 27, whichin its movement causes acarriage 28-to slide with it in special grooves 29 provided for it inthe frame. 7 v Thecarriage 28 is provided with a pair geared together,one of which is provided with holdersto contain various tools to operateon the'blanks, while the other is provided with means for-holding theblanks for subsequent?treatment. When the carriage is moved forward oneof the tools in' the tool-carrying turret is alined with stock, and ifproperly arranged will act on the 'same, owing to the rotation of thestock.

As thecarriage is brought back to its rearward position it brings aclutch mechanism 32 into play so that the shaft 15 will cause a sleeveshaft and gear 33, movable with the carriage, to be operated, and thisin turn, through a chain transmission 34, rotates the special mechanism35 which causes each turret to turn around a predetermined amount andthus present a different tool for the stock or blank.

rying turret 31 is provided with three tools a," l), 0, and the carriage28 is brought back and forth, as above described, until all the 7 toolshave acted upon the stock, after which the blank is in condition to besevered-from the stock (if the latter be in the for-m of second holderfor subsequent treatment by. other tools. V a

The mechanism for cutting the blank from the bar stock consists ofalever '36 operated by the cam 23 and connected to the carriage 37, whichis provided with a suitable cutter 38; The cam effects a reciprocationof the carriage 37 in the path of the'cutter of which is located thestock, and this reciprocation of the cutter severe the blank from thestock.

The cam wheel 24 is provided for the .purpose of operatingthe'mechanismfor transferring the blank from one holding station tothe other, andconsists of a segmental lever .39 actuated by said cam, a segmentalmember 40. which meshes with the' toothed segment on lever 39, and anarm42. The segment 40 and arm 42 are fixed to a common shaft 41 so thatan oscillation of the segment 40 will impart a corresponding movement tothe'arm 42; This arm is provided with a resilient catch 43 for engagingand securely holding the blanks." The positions to which it is desiredto transfer the blanks by the specific mechanism shown is controlled bythe shape of the periphery of the cam, which is;so constructed that ittra'nsfers'the blank to a plurality of stations at one or more of whichthe arm is 9 given a period of dwell, whereby certain characteristicoperations are effected with 7 V out the blank being necessarily removedfrom the transfer armQ For instance, it is necessary in many operationsof. this character to use a punch, such as I have diagrammaticallyindicated at 4. In this case, it is not necessary'to remove the blankfrom the transfer arm, it being suflicient to bring the blank into thefield of action of the punch and to maintainthe same in such positionfor a period commensurate Wltlltlle time re- ,quired for effecting thepunching operation.

erably operated left hand from sleeve 2, by. 126

means of gears 3 and 49 for pointing the blank, while the latter isoperated right In the construction shown, the tool-car hand from thesame source through the'intermeshing gears 47 and 4-8 for threading.These pointing and threading means are 10- cated in front of the turret30, and when the latter is rotated tothe proper positions the blank onthe holder will be in exact alinement' with the pointing and threadingmeans. 7 130 p The general operation of the machine will now bedescribed, and the further cooperation of the parts explained.

The first act of the machine, after the same has been started, will beto feed the stock forward by means of the clutch device into engagementwith the stop aof the toolcarrying turret which defines the length ofthe blank to be made. Upon the rearward movement of the carriage aclutch 32 comes into action and brings the centering tool of the saidturrent into alinement with the stock, and a forward movement of thecarriage, caused by one of the force bars or cams 26 coming into contactwith the part 27, will disengage the clutch 32 at this point and causethe centering tool 6 in turret 31 to act on the rotating stock 1. Thecarriage will then be forced to retract by virtue of one of the cams 26,and because of the reengagement of the clutch 32 the turret will becaused to take up another position in which the succeeding tool, thatis, the

drill c, and the blank will be in alinement.

The carriage then being brought forward, the drill will then operateupon the stock and retreat as before, thus causing another reengagementof the clutch. It will thus be seen that the operation continues untilthe blank has been treated bythe required number of tools inthe toolholding turret. As soon as the turret has made one complete rotation,the cam wheel 24 will act on the lever 39 and the transfer arm will beso operated as to have its finger mechanism 43 catch on to the stock.The cam wheel 23 will then act on its lever 36, and the cutter will cutthe blank off, which will then be in the finger mechanism of thetransfer arm. The next swing of the transfer arm; will bring the blankunder the punch and the squared hole in the back will be made in theblank. The next swing of the arm will bring the blank immediately infront of the blank holder (which is shaped to correspond to the hole inthe blank) of the second turret 30, and in its timed movement forwardthe holder will engage the squared hole of the blank and as the carriageretreats the transfer arm will leave the blank on said holder. While thecarriage 28 is in its forward position, to which it has been moved tocause the blank holder on the turret 30 to engage with the blank held inits path by the transferrer, the stock rod is fed forward to the stop afor another blank. The carriage 28 is then withdrawn, carrying the blankon the holder. This movement, as before eX- plained, causes anengagement of the clutch 32, which indexes the turrets one position,placing thecentering tool I) of turret 31 in line with the stock rod,and the blank holder on turret 30 in line with the tool spindle 45 forcupping the point of the blank. Conse quently when the carriage isadvanced, as

previously explained, the tool on spindle 45 cups or points the blankheld by the turret 30, while at the same time the succeeding blank isbeing operated upon by means of the centering tool Z) in turret 31. Thecarriage is again withdrawn and the turrets indexed another position,which brings the next tool 0 on the tool-carrying turret into alinenientwith the stock for drilling the same, and the blank on the other turretinto alinement with the spindle 46, which carries the die for threadingthe blank and which is driven at a reduced speed from the spindle, 2.

The die spindle 46 does not reverse as is common with devices of thischaracter, but is moved constantly in one direction, the blank beingforced through the die spindle by the succeeding blanks and drops fromthe same completely finished.

It is very obvious that the tools employed in the tool-carrying turretsand in the spindles may be varied in number and kind, and while I haveindicated in the drawings and described the use of three tools on thetoolcarrying turret and two tools on the two spindles opposite theholding turret, it will be understood that this is for illustrativepurposes only. Some of these tools may be dispensed with, othersubstituted therefor, or the number used may be increased withoutdeviating from the invention.

The turrets are geared together, to run either in the same or oppositedirections, and are operated through a gear actuated by a shaftconnected with the mechanism 35. The punch is tripped by a simplearrangement which the-transfer arm acts upon as it brings the blank intoposition to be operated upon by the said punch. The clutch 5 may be ofany usual type suitable for the purpose, being such that it will tightenon the stock when moved in one direction, and release the same whenmoved in the opposite direction. This clutch may be of the type shownand described in the patent to Hakewessell e2? aZ., #551119.

lVhile but one modification of the invention has been described in thespecification, it is not intended to limit the invention to thatparticular construction, or in any other way, otherwise than limited bythe prior art, as many modifications in the construction of theinvention may be made without deviating from the principles thereof andstill come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a rotating headadapted to hold stock, a plurality of turrets, one of said turretshaving a plurality of tools adapted to operate upon the stock, a secondturret having a work holding means mounted thereon, a rotating spindleadjacent to the head of the machine neously.

I re

operation with the tools on the first mentioned turret, a second spindleprovided with a tool, means to transfer a blank from the rotating headto the work holding means von the turret, where it can be acted upon bythe said tool, and means for efiecting a relative movement of the turretand the tools andspindles, whereby a plurality of operations maytakeplace substantially simulta- 2. In a device of the class described, aphi.- rality of spindles, one of saidspindles adapted to rotate stock,and the other provided With a cutter, a pair of parallel turrets, one

'of said turrets having tools mounted thereon to act upon said stock,the other turret having Work holding means adapted to secure a blank andpresent the same to said cutter, and transferring means adapted toremove a blank from the first mentioned spindle. and transfer the sameto the work holding means on the second turret, and

meansfor efiecting a relative movement of the turrets and spindles. V

3. In a device of the class described, a

plurality of rotating spindles, one of said spindles being adaptedtohold stock,:a sec 0nd of said spindles havinga rotating cut-' t ng meanssecured thereto, a plurality of turrets, one of said turrets havingtools mounted thereon to operate upon the stock, the second of saidturrets having a work holding device, a cut-off tool adapted to out offthe-{$00k upon the completion of the operations of the tools in thefirst turret, means adapted to grip the blank before it is 7 cut fromthe stock'and transfer said blank after it is cut off to the workholding means in the second turret,'and means for effect ing a relativemovement of the turrets and spindles whereby a plurality of cuttingoperatmnsinaytake place simultaneously.

4. In a device of the class described, comprising, in combination, aplurality of 'turrets disposed substantially in the same'plane, meansfor periodically changing their relations, one of said turrets providedwit h operating nea'ns, means for rotating stock in position tocooperate with the operating means on said turret, the second turret provided with blank holding means, a cutting means in alinement with blankholding means on the second turret,'means for bringing theturrets intocloser relation with the cutting means and the stock rotating means, andmeans for transferring stock from position in front of the first turretto the holding means on the second turret.

5. .A machine of the class described, comprising, a plurality ofturrets, a blank rotating means in front of one of said turrets,

' and a rotating die in front of the other tur= ret, the secondmentioned turret provided the rotating means, in combination with apunch, and means for transferring the successive blanks from the blankrotating means first to the punch and then to the blank holding means011 the second turret.

6. In a device of the class described, comprising, in combination, meansto rotate a blank, a plurality of turrets, one of said turrets having aplurality of tools adapted tobe presented successively to operate uponthe blank, a punch, a work holding means in the other turret, andatransferringmeans adapted to first transfer a blank from its holder tothe punch and then transfer the blank to the work holding means in'thesec- 0nd turret, and means for operating upon broach the blank upon thecompletionof the operations thereon of the tools of the first turret,means to transfer the blank from the blank rotating means to the punch,said meansbeing adapted to transfer the blank from the punch to theworkholding means on the second turret after the broaching operationhasbeen completed, and means for operating'upon said blank as the same isheld by said. second turret.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofturrets, one of said turrets adapted to effect a preliminary operationupon the blank, the other turret having a work holding means thereon, apunch, and a means to transfer a blank from its first position,- whereit undergoes the preliminary operation, successively to the punch and tothe work holding means inthe second turret, the time of said lastmentioned means havinga period of dwell during which a I broachingoperation is effected upon the blankin the punch, and meansfor'operating upon said blank as the same'is held by the second turret.

9. In adevice of the class described, a

rotating head adapted tohold a blank, a plurality of interconnectedrotatable turrets, one of said turrets provided with means for operatingupon the blank held by the rotatable head and the second turret having.

means adapted to hold another blank, mechanism located adjacent to therotatable head for operating upon the blank on the holding means of thesecond turret, means for ad-. vanjcing and retracting the turrets to andfrom-saidrotatable head and said mechanism, whereby the respectiveblanks are operated upon by the operating means, and means fortransferring successive blanks from the rotating head to the saidholding means on the second turret.

10. In a device of the class described, a rotating head adapted to holda blank, a retatable holder mounted adjacent to said rotating head, incombination with a plurality of interconnected rotatable turrets, one ofwhich is provided with tools adapted to be brought into alinement withthe blank and the other of which is provided with a blank holder insubstantial alinement with the die, means for transferring a blank fromthe retating head to said holder after it has been operated upon by saidtools, and means for simultaneously advancing and retracting the turretsto and from the rotating head and die holder whereby a plurality ofoperations are simultaneously effected.

11. A machine for automatically operating upon a blank to produce afinished article, comprising a spindle for intermittently feeding stockto a predetermined point, in combination with a plurality ofinterconnected rotatable turrets operated in unison, one of said turretsprovided with means adapted to operate upon said blanks in the spindleand the second turret having a work holding device to receive the blankfrom said spindle, means for transferring the blank from the spindle tosaid work holder, and meansfor operating upon said blank While retainedby the work holder of the second turret to finish the same.

12. In a device of the class described, a rotating head adapted to holda blank, a plu rality of interconnected rotatable turrets, one of whichis provided with tools adapted to be brought into alinement with theblank, and the other of which is provided with a holder for said blankafter the latter has been operated upon by the tools in the firstturret, rotatable cutting means mounted adjacent to said rotating headand located in substantial alinement with said holder on the secondturret, means for transferring a blank from the rotating head to saidholder, and means for advancing and retracting the turrets to and fromthe rotating head and cutting means whereby a plurality of operationsare simultaneously effected.

13. In a device of the class described, a rotating spindle adapted tohold stock, a rotatable die holder mounted adjacent to said rotatinghead, in combination with a plurality of interconnected rotatableturrets, one of which is provided with tools adapted to operate upon theblank before the same is severed from the stock, and the second of whichis provided with a blank holder adapted to be brought into alinementwith the die, means for severing the blank from the die after the samehas been operated upon by the said tools, mechanism adapted to engagesaid blank before the same has been severed from the stock and transferthe same after severance to the holder on said second turret, and meansfor simultaneously produce a finished article, comprising a plurality ofstations for holding blanks while the same are acted upon by varioustools, in combination with means for operating upon the blanks while thesame are held in the aforesaid stations, one of said stations and one ofthe tool-carrying means comprising interconnected rotatable turretsoperating in unison, and means for transferring successive blanks fromone holding station to the other.

15. A machine for performin successive operations upon ablank to producefinished articles, comprising a plurality of successive blank holders,in combination with means for transferring the blanks from one holder tothe succeeding holder, and means arranged in juxtaposition to each ofsaid holders for performing one or more operations upon the blanks, oneof said holding means and one of the tool-carrying means comprisinginterconnected turrets adapted to be rotated and reciprocated in unisonwith each other.

16. A machine for performing successive operations upon a blank toproduce finished articles, comprising a plurality of interconnectedrotatable turrets operated in unisonwith each other in combination witha plurality of spindles located in alinement with said turrets, meansfor transferring stock from one of said spindles to one of said turretsafter it has been preliminarily treated by the tools of the otherturret, and means for advancing and retracting the turrets toward andfrom said spindles whereby a plurality of operations take place at thesame time.

17 A machine for performing successive operations upon a blank toproduce finished articles, comprising a plurality of intercounectedrotatable turrets, one of said turrets having means thereon foroperating upon a blank and the other turret provided with means forholding the preceding blank, in combination with a plurality ofrotatable spindles. one of which is adapted to hold the stock while itis operated upon by the tools of the tool-carrying turret and the othersof which are adapted to operate upon the blank held by the other turret,means for transferring blanks from the stock holding

